School Based Nursery Capital Programme

Our Expertise in Early Years Childcare

Place Group has extensive expertise in the early years childcare sector – with its specialist team having worked with one-third of all English, and Welsh, local authorities on childcare sufficiency and relevant business planning projects since the initiation of the Childcare Act 2006.

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Our Success in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the DfE’s School-Based Nursery Capital Programme

Place Group successfully wrote 12 applications for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the DfE’s School-Based Nursery Capital Programme (SBN) – a 100% success rate.

It has also been working in 2025 on the pre-opening project management of Phase 1 School-Based Nurseries.A school or Multi Academy Trust can now apply for capital funding to establish a new nursery or extend an existing nursery under Phase 3 of the DfE School School-Based Nursery Programme.

Key details for this programme are:

• Schools and Multi Academy Trusts will work in close partnership with a respective local authority – to develop an application.
• There is more capital funding available, than there was for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the programme.
• Applicants under Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the programme can also submit a Phase 3 application – by the deadline of 30^th September, 2026.
• Applications must demonstrate a clear need for additional places – aligned to evidence of community consultation.

Place Group has first-hand relationships with the relevant childcare sufficiency officers from the majority of English local authorities, and can support with this critical first process.

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How We Support Applications

We can take full responsibility for the following key elements:

• School site visits – confirming feasibility through a space assessment and business planning review, and establishing application viability with headteachers/Trust leaders.
• Consultation and engagement – launching, managing, and analysing feedback from the school – and surrounding – community.
• Local authority liaison – engaging with relevant officers to ensure their full support for the application.
• Application dynamics – producing strong content, covering all the sections of the application:
  • Eligibility criteria
  • About your school or trust
  • About the project
  • Project overview and business model
  • Local need
  • Approach to early education and the Early Years Foundation Stage
  • Evaluation of risks
  • Management of provision
  • Value for money, including obtaining quotes from contactors

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Our Success in Managing the Pre-Opening of
successful SBN Programme Applications

For successful Phase 2 applications, our experienced team can deliver the pre-opening project management like we did for successful Phase 1 applicants –
which typically involves actions including:

• Managing the capital project delivery
• Implementing the application’s business plan and vision
• Confirming turnover and profitability projections
• Support with marketing and ensuring occupancy
• Support with recruitment of the nursery leadership and team
• Liaison with the DfE
• Liaison (as required) with Ofsted registration requirements

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If you are interested in further exploring how Place Group can support you with such an application please contact us at our Contact page.